Tray washing and sterilizing machine



Sept. 8, 1953 C. M. O'CONNOR TRAY WASHING AND STERILIZING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 c. M. O'CONNOR 2,651,065

TRAY WASHING AND STERILIZING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR Claw/n55 M O'C'bxywon Patented Sept. 8, 1953 TRAY WASHING AND STERILIZIN G MACHINE Charles M. OConnor, Tucson, Ariz.

Continuation of application Serial No. 260,481, December '1, 1951. This application January 19, 1953, Serial No. 332,034

8 Claims. 1

This application is acontinuation of my copending application Serial No. 260,481, filed December '7, 1951, now abandoned.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to a machine for washing and sterilizing cafeteria trays.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved tray washing and sterilizing machine which is simple in construction, which is relatively compact in size, and which is adapted to thoroughly scrub and cleanse cafeteria trays in a rapid and economical manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic washing and sterilizing apparatus for cafeteria trays, said apparatus being inexpensive to fabricate, involving relatively few parts, being economical in the use of soap and water, and providing a thorough cleansing and sterilizing action.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic washin and sterilizing apparatus in which scrubbing and rinsing devices serve to feed the trays through the machine and to cause the discharge of the trays from the machine at the completion of the cleaning operations.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved tray washing and sterilizing machine in which the trays to be cleaned are moved through the machine by a combination of gravity feed, propulsion by the washing elements of the machine, and jet stream action of the sterilizing elements of the machine in discharging the trays from the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of an improved tray washing and sterilizing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the tray washing and sterilizing apparatus of Figure 1, portions of the side Walls of the apparatus being broken away to reveal details of interior construction, and portions of the interior components being shown in verticallongitudinal cross section.

Figure 3 isa rear end elevational view of the tray washing and sterilizing apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, a portion of the apparatus being shown I erally rectangular. housing having the side walls I2 and I3, the end walls l4 and 15, the top wall It and the bottom wall l1. Secured transversely in the intermediate portion of the housing is a transverse partition wall l8 defining a washing compartment IS on one side thereof and a sterilizin compartment 20 on the other side thereof.

The end wall I4 of the housing is formed with a horizontal loading slot 2| located in the upper portion of said end wall I4 and communicating with the tray washing compartment 19. The side wall I 2 of the housing is formed in its lower portion with a horizontal discharging slot 22 communicating with the sterilizing compartment 20 located lower down and at right angles to said loading slot. Designated at 23 is an inclined feed guide bar secured longitudinally in the housing adjacent the side wall l3 and extending downwardly from a point immediately subjacent the slot 2|, as shown in Figure 2, and extending through the washing compartment [9 and the sterilizing compartment 20. The partition wall [8 is formed with a horizontal slot 24 adjacent the guide bar 23 and arranged to allow the passage therethrough of a tray 25 moving downwardly on the guide bar 23 from the washing compartment l9 to the sterilizin compartment 20.

Secured in the sterilizing compartment 2! are a pair of inclined discharge guide bars 26, 26 extending downwardly from the side wall I3 to the side wall [4 and terminating subjacent the horizontal slot 22, as shown in Figure 6, said inclined guide bar 26 being arranged to guide a tray downwardly and out of the housing through slot 22, as will be subsequently explained.

Designated at '21 are respective groups of rotary brushes mounted transversely in the washing compartment I9 above and below the plane of the guide bar 23, the shafts of the brushes being iournaled in the side walls [3 and I4 and being provided at their ends with the meshing gears 28 5 disposed adjacent the side wall 13, one of the gears designated at 28 being provided with a sprocket wheel 29 which is coupled by a sprocket chain 36 to a sprocket wheel 3| secured on the shaft of an electric motor 32 mounted on the top wall l5 of the housing.

Designated at 33 is a water trough mounted in the lower portion of the washing compartment i9, and designated at 34 is a gas burner mounted below the trough 33 and connected through a conduit 35 and a control valve 36 to a' source 'off! j illuminating gas. Mounted in the upper portion; of the washing compartment above and below the plane of the guide bar 23 are the respective on duits 3i and 33 having secured thereto the traine versely extending apertured-spraylnozziesishowni1 respectively at 39 and 40 and 4| and 42, said spray nozzles being arranged transversely to the :housing and disposed adjacent to the plane of the guide rail 23 and on opposite sides thereof. As shown'in Figure 2, the spray'nozzles 39 and'il extend between successive'rotary" brushes 21 above the plane of the guide'rail'23 and the spray nozzles 4| and 42- extend between successive brushes 2'! below said plane.

The conduits 31 and 38 are connected to a' conduit 43 which is connectedthrough'a circulating pump 44 to a conduit 45; The conduit 45 is connected tothe lower portion'of the water trough 33, as shown in Figured.

Mounted in the end wall I4 is a conventional thermometer having'its indic'atorfl'la arranged externally with respect to wall'l4, as shown in Figure 2.

Designated at 41 is the horizontal screen which is slidably mounted in the intermediate portion of the washing compartment between the lowermost water conduit 38 and'the water tank 33," as shown in Figure 2, the screen" being readily removable through a slot provided' therefor-in end wall 14 whenever cleaning oi the screen 4'I becomes necessary.

Designated at 48 and 49*are respective addi: tional water conduits secured in the sterilizingcompartment 20 above" andbelow 'theplane'of the guide bar 23, said conduits-wand 49"being provided with jet spray'nozzles 50directed to ward the plane of said guide rail. The conduits 48' and'49 are connected through a control-valve 50a to a conduit 5| leading toa suitable supply of hot water.

The circulating pump 44 is coupled to the shaft of the motor 32 by a conventional coupling 52, as shown in Figure 3, on'the side of the motor opposite to the sprocket wheel 3|.

In operation, soap and water are placed in the trough 33, the gas burner 34 being ignited so as to elevate the soap and water intrough 33130 the desired washing temperature, as indicated on the dial 4'! of thermometer 46. Conventional thermostatic control'means may be employed in conjunction with the burner 34 t'o'automa'tically maintain the temperatureof the'soap'and waterat a desired value. Hot water is admitted'to-the conduits 48 and 4.3 in the sterilizer compartment- 20 by opening the control valve 50. The'motor 32 is energized, causing the brushes 2'Ito revolve and causing the circulating pump-44 to circulate soapy water from the-trough 33'th'rough the conduits 31 and 38 andt'he' spray nozzles "39; '40,

4i and 42. The trays 25 to be cleaned are inserted into the housing through the slot 21, the trays being then scrubbed and propelled through the washing compartment 19 by the rotary action of brushes 2?, each tray being simultaneously sprayed with hot soapy water by the nozzles 39 to 42. The tray 25 is then fed through the slot 24 into the sterilizer compartment 20 along the guide bar 23 by the action of the brushes 2'! and is subjected to the hot water spray from the nozzles 50, whereby the scrubbed surfaces of the tray are thoroughly sterilized. As soon: as the rear margin of the tray becomes disengaged from the slot 24, the tray drops off the guide bar 23 onto the inclined bar members 23, 23 and slides out 'ofthe sterilizing compartment 20 through the exit slot 22.

It will be noted that the weight of the tray combined with the force of the hot water sprays acting :on thetrayacauses the tray to drop ofi of the guide -bar-:23 onto the inclined bar member -2t and causes the cleaned and sterilized tray to be ejected from the apparatus.

Connected to the bottom wall I! below the sterilizing compartment" 20 is a drain conduit wallowing the waste water to leavetheapparatus'to'be' drained into the sewer'system.

The screen 41 maybe periodically cleaned by removingit fromthe washing compartment-:19, as above explained, to dislodge food-particles and other waste material therefrom -which may'have" collected thereon during the operation of the apparatus. I

If so desired, a suitable supply of water may beconne'cted' to the water trough -33-controlled' in anyc'onventional manner, as-by' a float valve, to maintain the level of'water-in the trough 33* at its optimum value.

While a specific embodiment of an improved-- tray washing and sterilizing apparatus has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will-be" understoodthat various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended"'tl'iat'no limitations be placed on the invention except'as defined by the scope of the'appended claims;

What is claimed is:

1. A tray'washer' and sterilizing machine com:- prisinga housing havingside walls, end walls, a top'wall an'd'a' bottom wall, a transverse partition secured in said housing defining .a washing com: partm'ent" on one side thereofand a sterilizing compartment on the other side thereof one end wall of thehousing being'formed with a slot com-' municating with the washing compartment and" one side wall of the housing being formed witha slot communicating with the steriiizingfcom: partment, an inclined guidebar secured longi-" tudinally in said housingadjacent theside'wall' and extending downwardly from the first Jnamed slot into the" sterilizing'compartment', saidfpar tition' wall being formed with a ho'rizontal'.slot adjacent said guide bar, a pluralityiof rotary transverse brushes mount'ed above and below the'planeof the guide bar, said transverse rotary brushes being disposed in the washing compartment, a water trough in 'the'low'e'r portiono'f'said washing compartment; heatingmeans associated with'said trough, spray nozzles'above and'below the brushes and directed toward the plane of the guide bar, conduit means connecting the=watertrough to the spray nozzles and including a cir' culating pump, inclined guide means in =the' sterilizing compartment below-the plane of the guide 1 bar and extending subjacent the secondnamed slot, additional spray nozzles in. the sterilizing compartment, and conduit meansconnected to said additional spray nozzles and adapted to be connected to a source of hot water.

2. A tray washer and sterilizing machine comprising a housing having side walls, end walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, a transverse partition secured in said housing defining a washing compartment on one side thereof and a sterilizing compartment on the other side thereof, one end wall of the housing being formed with a slot communicating with the Washing compartment and one side wall of the housing, being formed with a slot communicating with the sterilizing compartment, inclined guide means disposed longitudinally in said housing adjacent a side wall and extending downwardly from the first named slots into the sterilizing compartment, said partition wall being formed with a horizontal slot adjacent said guide means, a plurality of transverse rotary brushes mounted above and below the plane of the guide means in the washing compartment, a water trough in the lower portion of said washing compartment, heating means associated with said trough, spray nozzles adjacent the brushes and directed toward the plane of the guide means, water circulating means connecting the water trough to the spray nozzles, inclined guide means in the sterilizing compartment below the plane of the first named guide means, said last named inclined guide means extending subjacent the second named slot, additional spray nozzles in the sterilizing compartment, and conduit means connected to said additional spray nozzles and adapted to be connected to a source of hot water.

3. A tray washer and sterilizing machine comprising a housing having side walls, end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, a transverse partition secured in said housing defining a washing compartment on one side thereof and a sterilizing compartment on the other side thereof, one end wall of the housing being formed with a slot communicating with the washing compartment and one side wall of the housing being formed with a slot communicating with the sterilizing compartment, an inclined guide bar secured longitudinally in said housing adjacent a side wall thereof and extending downwardly from the first named slot into the sterilizing compartment, said partition wall being formed with a horizontal slot adjacent said guide bar, a plurality of transverse rotary brushe mounted above and below the plane of the guide bar in the washing compartment, a water trough in the lower portion of said washing compartment, heating means associated with said trough, spray nozzles above and below the brushes and directed toward the plane of the guide bar, conduit means connecting the water trough to the spray nozzles and including a circulating pump, inclined guide means in the sterilizing compartment below the plane of the guide bar and extending subjacent the second named slot, additional spray nozzles in the sterilizing compartment, conduit means connected to said additional spray nozzles and adapted to be connected to a source of hot water, and a horizontal screen removably mounted in the washing compartment between the rotary brushes and the water trough.

4. A tray washer and sterilizing machine comprising a housing having side walls, end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, a transverse partion wall secured in said housing defining a Washing compartment on one side thereof and 6 a sterilizing compartment on the, other side thereof, one wall of the housing being formed with a slot communicating with the washing compartment, and the housing being formed with another slot communicating with the sterilizing compartment, inclined guide means disposed in said housing and extending downwardly from the first named slotintothe sterilizing compartment, said partition wall being; formed with a slot adjacent said guide means, a plurality of transverse rotary brushes mounted above and below the plane of the guide. means inthelwashing compartment, awatertrough in the lower portion of said washing compartment, heating means associated with said trough, spray nozzles adjacent the brushes and directed toward the plane of the guide means, water circulating means connecting the water trough to the spray nozzles, inclined guide means in the sterilizing compartment below the plane of the first named guide means and extending subjacent the second named slot, additional spray nozzles in the sterilizing compartment, and conduit means connected to said additional spray nozzles and adapted to be connected to a source of hot water.

5. A tray washing and sterilizing machine having, a housing, a horizontally disposed loading slot in said housing adapted to receive trays to be washed, a horizontally disposed discharge slot located lower down in said housing, an inclined feed guide bar fixed in said housing and extending downwardly from said loading slot toward said discharge slot, rotary brush means in said housing between said slots for scrubbing trays inserted in said loading slot and to cause downward feeding movement of said trays toward said discharge slot, inclined discharge guide bars in said housing positioned between the lower end of said inclined feed guide bar and said discharge slot, soap and water supply means associated with said rotary brush means, and sterilizing water supply means located above said discharge guide bars.

6. A tray washing and sterilizing machine having, a housing, a horizontally disposed loading slot in said housing adapted to receive trays to be washed, a horizontally disposed discharge slot located lower down in said housing, an inclined feed guide bar fixed in said housing and extending downwardly from one end of said loading slot toward said discharge slot, a series of rotary brushes mounted in said housing behind said loading slot, means for driving said brushes to cause feeding of said trays along said feed guide bar toward said discharge slot, inclined discharge guide bars located at right angles to said feed guide bar adapted to receive trays from said feed guide bar and discharge them out through said discharge slot.

7. A tray washing and sterilizing machine having, a housing, a horizontally disposed loading slot in said housing adapted to receive trays to be washed, a horizontally disposed discharge slot located lower down in said housing, an inclined feed guide bar fixed in said housing and extending downwardly from one end of said loading slot toward said discharge slot, a serie of rotary brushes mounted in said housing behind said loading slot, means for driving said brushes to cause feeding of said trays along said feed guide bar toward said discharge slot, inclined discharge guide bars located at right angles to said feed guide bar adapted to receive trays from said feed guide bar and discharge them out through said discharge slot, sterilizing water discharge jets located above said discharge guide bars to eject 

